8 March 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - On this International Women’s Day, I am pleased to announce that I joined the International Gender Champions. Today, we must all answer the call to action to achieve a future where the rights, equality, and empowerment of all women and girls are fully realized. The theme, For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment., serves as a powerful reminder that gender equality is not just a goal—it is a necessity.

22 February 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is pleased to announce that Michelle Gyles-McDonnough has officially assumed office as its new Executive Director. She succeeds Nikhil Seth of India, whose mandate concluded on 31 January 2025.

16 December 2024, New York, USA - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Michelle Gyles-McDonnough of Jamaica as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She will officially assume her duties on 22 February 2025, succeeding Nikhil Seth of India, to whom the Secretary-General expressed profound gratitude for his dedication and contributions to the United Nations.

24 October 2024, In September, Member States came together to adopt a visionary Pact for the Future aimed at aligning international efforts with contemporary realities and future challenges. Today, on UN Day, the six research and training institutes of the United Nations reaffirm their commitment to supporting the Pact of the Future through specialized knowledge, learning, research and training for the UN system – benefitting the world as a whole.

18 October 2024, Geneva, Switzerland. UNIDO, UNITAR and SDSN with support from DLA Piper are organizing a side event “Capabilities 4 the Future Hub” at UNIDO Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum 2024 (MIFP) on 23 October 2024 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The side event will convene the main Champions of the Capabilities 4 the Future Hub and explore how the Hub can offer a space for government agencies, private sector and educational and training institutions to prepare and manage these transitions through participatory dialogue and learning strategies at global, sectoral and national levels enabling them to innovate and create the highest joint returns to prosperity, society and environment for those who participate in inclusive and sustainable Global Value Chains.

03 October 2024, New York, United States – On 02 October 2024, the 2024 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) training series, organized by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office, concluded with the fourth and final module at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This series, entitled “Accelerating Action for the Sustainable Development Goals,” aimed to prepare delegates for the General Assembly’s Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development of the United Nations System. Here, we detail the objectives, key topics, and speakers involved in Module 4 of the 2024 QCPR Training Series.

30 September 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) has released the 9th update of its assessment of the damage inflicted on buildings in the Gaza Strip. This analysis, based on very high-resolution satellite imagery collected on 3 and 6 September 2024, shows that two thirds of the total structures in the Gaza Strip have sustained damage.

UNITAR co-organized a Summit of the Future side event “Intergenerational Dialogue for a Sustainable Future: Shaping Inclusive Society through Digital Power” on 19 September. This event was held in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations in New York, the Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations in New York, the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations in Geneva, and the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. Leaders and youth from diverse fields discussed their perspectives on how digital technologies can be harnessed to create an inclusive society and promote sustainable prosperity and peace.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR NYO) once again partnered with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations for the 8th annual Joint Swiss-UNITAR Briefing on Budgetary Matters. The 3-day briefing was held on 03-05 September 2024 at the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Room, located at the United Nations Secretariat.

13 September 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in collaboration and support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and CIFAL Global Network are organizing an official side event during the Action Days titled "LEAP-FAST: Accelerating Sustainable Transformations through Higher Education Networks”. The side event will take place in a hybrid mode on Saturday, 21 September 2024, from 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm in Room GA-3B-760-1, UNHQ GA Conference Building.